Smoke billows after a fire broke out at Bandhwari landfill.
| Photo Credit: File photo
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has flagged serious violations at the Bandhwari landfill in Gurugram, noting that untreated leachate is overflowing and being discharged into forested areas through “kutcha drains” and concrete pipes.
The tribunal has directed authorities to take “immediate remedial action,” according to its latest order.
The principal Bench of the NGT, comprising chairperson Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A. Senthil Vel, passed the order while hearing a case on the alleged failure of authorities to comply with environmental norms at the landfill site.
‘Pathetic condition’
“Joint inspection report dated 17.09.2025 has been filed, depicting the serious violation of the norms. The report discloses that leachate is discharged into the plantation/forest area, where it has been collected in the form of a pond. Photographs enclosed as annexure-3 collectively with the report also disclosed the pathetic condition concerning the discharge of leachate,” the NGT said in its September 18 order.
The report also observed that three ponds had been developed at the site for leachate storage, but no impervious lining had been provided to prevent groundwater contamination.
The order also recorded that the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram has yet to pay ₹3.5 crore out of the ₹6.3 crore environmental compensation imposed by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).
“Learned counsel appearing for the Municipal Corporation, Gurugram submits that he will obtain positive instructions in respect of the deposit of environmental compensation within four weeks,” the order stated.
In April, the tribunal had pulled up the municipal corporations of Gurugram and Faridabad over “gross deficiencies” in the management of waste at the Bandhwari site.
Published – September 22, 2025 01:40 am IST
